Our Reports

Our reports are about the impact of the path on health and wellbeing of the people who use the path. They also examine the impact of the path on the tourism economy and give useful visitor insights. Welsh government contributes about £1.4 million towards the path. This pays for maintenance, development and marketing of the path each year. Natural Resources Wales commissioned all the reports and surveys.

Health Impact

An assessment of the health benefits of walking the path using the World Health Organisation’s Health Economic Tool (HEAT). Read the report about the Economic assessment of the Health Benefits of walking on the Wales Coast Path, 2014 PDF, 661KB.

Economic Impact

The impact of European funding on areas of the path as part of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Convergence Programme. Read the report on Evaluating the benefits to business of the Wales Coast Path, 2013 (PDF, 661KB)

Wales Coast Path Business Survey 2024

A survey was conducted with businesses along the path to gather opinions on support needed for maximizing opportunities. It included sectors like hospitality, food, retail, and attractions.

Also included in the survey were the three National Trails in Wales (Glyndwrs Way, Offa’s Dyke Path and Pembrokeshire Coast Path). View the survey results on the National Trail website (coming soon).

Wales Coast Path survey reports are available to view and download (all in PDF format), covering the whole path and regional areas.

• View the Wales Coast Path and National Trails Business Survey report (overall report) 2.9 MB
• View the North Wales Coast report 2.1MB
• View the Anglesey report 1.3MB
• View the Gwynedd report 1.4 MB
• View the Ceredigion report 3 MB
• View the Pembrokeshire report 3.6 MB
• View the Carmarthen Bay and Gower report 2.3 MB
• View the South Wales Coast report 2.6 MB

Visitor Surveys

These surveys analyse who uses the path, their characteristics and experiences. Their motivations and their information sources are also examined. We make comparisons with previous survey findings where possible.

• The report also examines the economic impact of coastal walking in Wales 2014. Read the report about the Wales Coast Path Visitor Survey 2015 (PDF, 1.2MB)
• The report includes the impact of Covid-19 on the likelihood of using the path. Read the report about the Wales Coast Path Visitor Survey 2019 to 2021(PDF, 1.0MB)

European Funding

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) contributed £4 million towards the path from 2007 to 2013.

• An analysis of the path’s achievements against targets set by ERDF fund. Read the Wales Coast Path End of Project Report 2007 to 2013,PDF, 1.0MB
• An estimate of the output and employment benefits gained from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Convergence Programme. Read the report about Wales Coast Path: Impacts of Capital Spending 2007 to 2013, PDF, 494KB